- Organic infant formula
-
Organic infant formulas are synthetic substitutes to natural breast milk. Organic formulas, as well as other organic foods, manufactured in the United States must be meet specific conditions regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) , and National Organic Program. They promote practices that support cycling of resources. The system of organic production is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) and regulations in Title 7, Part 205 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The USDA, AMS, and National Organic Program is designed to accredit state agencies and businesses the ability to certify producers and handlers of agricultural goods who operate according to the National Organic Program’s regulations (enforcing the ORPA and Federal Title7, Part 205) as organic. Organic infant formulas are manufactured with all production aspects certified organic, including vitamins, cow's milk, sugar, and the cleanliness of machines and handlers.
The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and regulations in Title 7, Part 205 of the Code of Federal Regulations of 1990 is a very detailed and precise U.S. Federal Amendment containing subparts of definitions, applicability, organic production and handling requirements, labels, labeling and marketing information, certification, accreditation of certifying agents, and administrative requirements to define an organic criteria. It states that an organically produced product is an agricultural/farmed item for consumption whose production and handling methods meet its regulations. The Organic Foods Protection Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to institute a list of substances that are to be allowed or prohibited in accordance to being organically produced, during organic production and handling also. This list is called the National List. Certification qualifies the management of organic farming or livestock and the handling operations in strict guidelines that define the position of a handler, how he/she handles, crop year, organic plan, synthetics, pesticides, domestic products, imported products, health standards for livestock that includes drinking water requirements, to soil amendments and management of wild crops in order for a company’s product to be certified organic. These are only a handful of regulatory means to the label of organic. Details of the title include such provisions that a field harvested for a product can be certified organic rather than the whole farm be certified. A business/ organization must comply with the National List, managed by the National Organic Program. The OFPA and Title 7, Part 205 define the National List as an ever amended list of prohibited substances that create the standards of organic production found in Title 7, which must be met in order for a product to be labeled and sold as organically produced. The National List and its compliance is one of the most important aspects controlling the true organic nature of a product. It is highlighted in Section 2118 of the title. Boards are created to control multiple areas of harvestation areas, such as a Plant Varieties Board who establishes an approved list of plant species varieties, as well as things like the National Plant Breeders' Rights. The Secretary of Agriculture determines the need for new substances whether because of a shortage of another substance or just as a substitution, but is addressed after consultation with the secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Their goal is to determine what is harmful to the human health or environment and follow this organic title for the righteousness of health.
The World Health Organization website explains another effort in world health, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). It was established by an FAO Conference resolution in 1961 and a World Health Assembly resolution in 1963 to protect the health of consumers and facilitate food trade by setting international standards on foods (i.e. Codex Standards) An intergovernmental body works to get the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards implemented by governments.
It is an international food standard among 183 Member States who control the main foods, whether processed, semi-processed or raw including materials used in processing, food additives, contaminants, pesticides and veterinary drug residues, prevention of food-bourne illnesses, packaging and labeling, sampling methods and risk analysis. The Codex Alimentarius Commission was adopted in upon the establishment of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme at the Sixteenth World Health Assembly May 1963 upon recognizing the WHO’s role in health aspects of food and the need for standards (providing administrational framework and managerial and financial support). Like Title 7, the Codex clearly defines acceptable conditions and procedures in the Codex Procedural Manual. Protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in food trading are the primary objectives of the Codex (i.e. food safety).
Quality Assurance International is international program similarly designed like the U.S. National Organic Program. The QAI was founded in 1989 as a worldwide organic certification services provider and headquartered in San Diego, California. It is fostered and accredited by many other organizations such as the National Organic Program. Their programs verify organic integrity throughout the organic supply chain. QAI has a noble dedication to keeping the planet healthier and agriculture sustainable through their programs and by providing education to the organic community and consumers.
The Food and Agriculture Organization is also an organization of the United Nations. Their objective is to ensure good nutrition for all. Their efforts are made to defeat hunger and to help countries improve their agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices. This is another international program in which the U.S.
In Title 7, Part 205 of the Code of Federal Regulations of 1990 there are sections designated to ensure the fulfillment and maintenance of certification parties such as state and federal officials, agents and accredited businesses. Compliance to the title lies in the certifying agent as well as the accredited business. Duties, such as administrator are nominated to guarantee proper day-to-day operations.
Certifying Agents is an accredited agent who is able to approve organic certification to businesses meeting organic requirements. The requirements of Certifying Agents are the basis of Section 2116. After being approved and accepted as a certifying agent, the certifying agent should be able to fully implement the organic certification program established under the title. The “Duration of Designation”, found in Section 2115 (C) describes that their accreditation shall be for a period no longer than 5 years, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, and then must be renewed. It is the duty of the certifying agent to employ a number of inspectors to implement the organic program. Any certifying agent must enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture that to their knowledge an "organic plan" does not contain any inconsistent production or handling practices to the Title, found in Section 2116 (G) “Limitation of Content of Plan." Certification is an agreement to guarantee the quality of a product to be organic in accordance of the Organic Foods Production Act and Federal Title 7, Part 205, and that the areas of production will be monitored.
References
"About FAQ". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2010. http://www.fao.org/about/en/.
"About WHO". World Health Organization. 2010. http://www.who.int/about/en/.
"Baby Feeding Patterns". Dr. Greene. 2 August 2009. http://www.drgreene.com/adam/special-topics/baby-feeding-patterns.
"Child Development". Department of Health and Human Services. 20 September 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/infants.htm.
"FDA 101: Infant Formula". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Department of Health and Human Services. 10 September 2009. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048694.htm.
"General Information About the Codex Alimentarius". Food Safety. World Health Organization. 2010. http://www.who.int/foodsafety/codex/general_info/en/index1.html.
Golonka, Debby (3 April 2008). "Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months". Yahoo Health. http://health.yahoo.com/children-baby/growth-and-development-ages-1-to-12-months/healthwise--hw251065.html.
"National Organic Program". United States Department of Agriculture. 5 March 2010. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOP.
"New Plant Varieties Entered into the National List of Plant Varieties". Envira. 25 March 2009. http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/evira/current_issues/archive/?bid=208.
"The Newborn Baby". Easy Baby Life. 2010. http://www.easybabylife.com/newborn.html.
"Title 7: Agriculture". Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. GPO Access. 11 March 2010. http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?type=simple;c=ecfr;cc=ecfr;sid=4163ddc3518c1ffdc539675aed8efe33;region=DIV1;q1=national%20organic%20program;rgn=div5;view=text;idno=7;node=7%3A3.1.1.9.31#7:3.1.1.9.31.7.342..
"Home Page". Quality Assurance International. 2008. http://www.qai-inc.com/0_0_0_0.php.
"Why Formula Instead of Cow's Milk". Ages and Stages. Healthy Children. 11 December 2009. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/pages/Why-Formula-Instead-of-Cows-Milk.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token.
External links
Categories:- Infant feeding
- Organic food
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
